Returning long side spin serves from both corners

Faran Ahmed Asked 11 years ago

Greetings.

First of all I want to make mention, I've been watching your videos from 2009 & have improved a lot. I really appreciate your work & wish you luck for more progress.

I wanted to ask that how do I return a long fast side spin serves (both inside & outside), from both backhand & forehand of they are targeted on respective corners?

To elaborate my question, I'm asking about 4 strokes (considering I'm right handed):

1. Outside spin serve placed at my RIGHT end of the table. 2. Inside spin serve placed at my RIGHT end of the table. 3. Outside spin serve placed at my LEFT end of the table. 4. Inside spin serve placed at my LEFT end of the table.... So I could learn to return it from both forehand & backhand.

Kindly assist.

Thank you.

Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago

Hi Faran,

I am glad that you have asked a question after so long of watching.  Thanks for your kind words.

The basics behind this return is that they are all long so you should be aiming to attack them whether it is forehand or backhand or spinning in or away from you.

If you stay with the basics of the swing for a topspin stroke and then allow for the sidespin by angling your racket you will start to get the feel and be able to return any ball this way.

The next thing to think about is your movement and watching the ball.  By watching the ball carefully throughout the serve, you will see which direction it is coming and also which way it is swinging, inwards or outwards.  This can be picked up but the action of the server as well as by the flight of the ball in the air.

Finally it is a matter of then adjusting the angle of the racket as we talked about.

Take a look at this previous Ask the Coach video response for How to return a long sidespin serve.

I hope this helps you.